Posted by Jennifer Testa - Sat, May 26, 2007 - [Men's Outdoor Track & Field] - Viewed 735 times
FRESNO, CALIF. - National Champions Josh Cloyd and Tyrell Cuffy lead the way and the men's track and field team achieved a first ever top ten team finish.
On Thursday Cloyd got the team off to a great start when he won the long jump with a personal best effort of 24'.75".
On Friday the inspired 4x100 team (Michael Bunche, Tyrell Cuffy, Jamaal Parker and Marcus Lomans) improved by .7 seconds to advance to the finals. Tyrell had already qualified for the 100 meter final with the fastest time but was unable to compete due to serious leg cramps. Also on Thursday Brandon Gray qualified for the 400 meter finals as did the 4x400 team of Cloyd, David Krenik, Lomans and Gray.
Early on the final day of competition the 4x100 team raced to a 3rd place finish which added 6 points to the score and earned All-American honors for the four. An hour later Gray finished 4th in the 400m to add 5 more points and then both Lomans and Cuffy qualified for the 200 meter finals. In the finals of the 200 meter, the defending champion Mike Rogers of Oklahoma Baptist, led until the last 5 meters when Cuffy edged by him for the win. The final times were 20.94 for Cuffy and 20.95 for Rogers. Adding 3 points to the team scoring was Loman’s surprise 6th place finish. Entering the competition he was ranked 18th overall but rose to the challenge and became an All-American for the second time with his personal best time of 21.49 seconds. In the final event of the day Cuffyl joined the 4x400 team and a new school record was established (3:12.70) with another point being added to the team score.
In all 6 King College men achieved All-American status and the team placed in the top ten overall in only its third year of existence.